CHAPTER 5 – ANGELINE

Angeline sunk her teeth into a tough strip of jerky and leaned back against the rock behind her. Her muscles shook with exhaustion, but she refused to show any signs of weakness. If she so much as winced, that irritating Salamander would never shut up about it. He’d probably even find a way to turn it into a dirty joke. Another massage wisecrack? Maybe a one-liner about the meat in her mouth? Something, she was sure.

In another life she might have actually been attracted to him. Okay, fine, physically he was just her type with his massive bad-boy muscles, the kind she just wanted to sink her fingers into… and that mischievous grin, those abs…

But mentally. She’d had enough cocky, reckless Salamanders to last her a lifetime. And he was one of the worst. He was so damn full of himself he probably carried a mirror around in his pack. Probably used it to watch himself take a shit. Or maybe he’d use it for the rare occasion when his cheesy pick-up lines actually worked and he got lucky. Oh, but he wouldn’t be watching his partner in that mirror. No, it would be all about admiring his own ass in the reflection.

Angeline ripped another chunk of jerky away in her teeth and lifted her gaze to watch Kallen puttering around on his half of the campsite. She watched as he extracted a glass jar, a canteen, and plastic bag from his pack.

He opened the bag and poured a fine powder into the jar, filling it half way. He filled it the rest of the way with some water, stirred it with a stick, and chugged.

“Is that…” she said, scrunching her nose, “a protein shake?” That would explain why his muscles were so massive. But at the same time, how the hell would he get ahold of it? It sounded like a logistical nightmare, it’s not like they gave it out as camp rations. He didn’t even have a camp he belonged to anyway. Did he smuggle a pallet across The Veil and hide it in a cave somewhere where he could conveniently restock to ensure he never missed his daily dose? A friggen protein shake, out here! Her irritation had more to do with the wizard drinking the beverage than the beverage itself, but still, the ridiculousness of the situation only exacerbated her already frayed nerves.

“Yep,” he said, smacking his lips as he finished his drink.

“Great now you are going to reek of whey,” she said. Not that she intended to get close enough to smell him or anything.

“It’s not whey, it’s pea & soy protein,” he said, digging around in his pack again. He pulled out what looked like a lump of cheese, but she couldn’t be sure in the low light of the campfire.

“Pea & soy? Gross.”

“I don’t do whey,” he said, “Whey can have rennet in it. Cow’s stomach. I’m a vegetarian.”

She nearly choked on her jerky. “You’re a vegetarian?” She’d been a vegetarian before she crossed The Veil, but she quickly discovered that avoiding meat on the camp menu basically meant her options were limited to crackers and potatoes.

“Yes ma’am,” he said shoving the entire block of maybe-cheese into his mouth.

“Is that because you aren’t skilled enough to be a hunter? Where do you get your food anyway?”

He folded his hands behind his head and leaned against the tree at his back, chewing slowly.

Angeline rolled her eyes. Not that he could see her do it in the dark, but whatever.

He finally swallowed with an exaggerated gulp. “Been a vegetarian since before my balls dropped. Only thing I hunt is Elves. And no way I’m telling you where I get my food, Angelface. You’ll just turn right around and report me to the Masters. Gotta earn your Captain brownie points, right?”

“I don’t tell the Masters everything,” she grumbled, crossing her ankles out in front of her. “Just what they need to know. As important as you think you are, your dietary restrictions are pretty low on the list of topics to discuss with them.”

“Are you keeping something from the Masters?” he said, devilish grin flashing in the firelight.

“No,” she snapped. Little things here and there, but nothing noteworthy. She left her trouble making days behind on the other side of that Veil. Whenever she went back to Earth on leave, she always just kept her head down, checked in with the family, and came right back.

“Why are you a vegetarian then? Vanity?” she said. She needed to steer this conversation back towards him. “Does it make your muscles look tight bro? Don’t wanna put bad shit in your precious bod?”

“Ah you like these babies?” he said, twisting his head to kiss each bicep. “You enjoying this ‘precious bod’?”

She took a long pull from her canteen, refusing to give a response. Whatever she said, he would twist it somehow.

“Nah, that’s not why,” he said. “I’ve put plenty of bad shit in this body. I even had this prick-ass coach who got me hooked on the juice for a while…”

Now that did not surprise her. She popped the rest of her jerky in her mouth, waiting for him to finish. It’s not like she had to know or anything, it was just something to talk about.

“I just don’t like the idea of eating animals,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “I’ve done enough harm.”

Her eyebrows ticked together in surprise. She hadn’t expected that response.

“I grew up on a farm,” he said, “and on my twelfth birthday my pop decided it was time I became a man. He took me out to the chopping block and made me slaughter a chicken. I liked that chicken. Named her Barbara. But pop said I had to do it.”

Angeline sat in stunned silence. Five minutes ago, she would have guessed this dude’s diet consisted of nothing but beef and bacon. Her eyes drifted up his sinewy forearms, over his swollen biceps, all the way to his massive shoulders. Even his neck muscles popped. He definitely looked like the type who had to religiously chug a whole carton of eggs every morning before his workout and then put away an entire rotisserie chicken afterwards.

“So back to this precious bod…” he said, his chuckle low and suggestive.

“Oh stop.” She blinked and shook her head. Had she been staring? Yes, the little glint in his eye told her yes. She needed to end this, it was just the sheer exhaustion causing her mind to wander. “I’ve gotta take a leak, I expect you to be on better behavior by the time I get back.”

She pushed to her feet and took one step. A white-hot pain shot down her calf. She stumbled forward, steadying herself on the rock as she let out a pained hiss between her teeth.

Kallen was at her side in a second, hands under her arm, steadying her, brows crumpled. “You okay?”

“Cramp,” she wheezed, exhaling the pain. She tried again. Another spasm seared through her muscle. “Fuck!”

She spun around, Kallen assisting as she eased back onto the ground.

He scooted down beside her and snatched her leg, pulling it into his lap.

She reflexively tried to pull away, but all that did was send another stabbing pain coursing through her. “Let go,” she grumbled.

“Hold still,” he said, firmly. “I know what I’m doing.”

Her whole body went tense as he tugged her pant-leg up to her knee. Then slid his warm palms up her calf. A little tingle of unwelcome excitement zipped up her skin and shot straight down between her thighs. The breath hitched in her chest at the abrupt burst of want. She tried to control the flush in her cheeks as the heat in her core bloomed outward. For a moment, she debated slapping him… or maybe she needed to slap herself.

A little grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he trailed his smooth touch up her leg and back down to her ankle.

It felt good, too fucking good. If he didn’t stop—

He pressed his thumbs in deep and a split second of pain snapped her from her confused, lustful haze. Then her muscle released, and the pain began to dissipate. She felt the strained tissue starting to relax, melting under his fingers.

Who would have guessed the walking dick-joke actually had a gentle side? Plus, the vegetarian thing on top of it… maybe she had him all wrong, or at least, partially.

“My shit coach was good for something,” Kallen shrugged, seeing the surprise on her face, “least I know my way around a Charley horse now. You’re probably dehydrated, which makes it worse. Better drink up.”

Angeline tucked her mouth to the side and reached for her canteen. She pressed her lips to the rim and took a small sip.

“You’re going to need to drink more than that,” Kallen said, laughing.

Angeline bit her lip. “I can’t. I still have to pee.”

“Oh. Right. Uh. I’ll help. Here, stand up.” He set her leg down and reached out for her hands.

“I’m not having you help me pee.”

“Come here,” he said, urging her to take his hands. “I’m not going to watch, I’ll just help you over to that tree, then leave you be. I swear, no peeking.” He smirked. “Not that I haven’t seen you pantless already.”

“Ohmygod,” she said, gripping his hands a little tighter than was necessary, “I should just take a piss on your boots, teach you a lesson.”

“Careful,” he said, steadying her as she hopped forward, “some people are into that.”

She gave him a concerned looked.

“Not me,” he said, quickly, “I’m not into that. Just some people.”

“Sure,” she said, reaching out for a low branch.

“Aren’t you going to ask what I am into?” he grinned.

“No,” she said, fidgeting with her pants, “but I am going to ask you to look away.”

“Ask? Or command?”

“KALLEN.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, raising his hands, turning away. “Maybe I should just let you hobble back by yourself.”

“Yes, please do that.”

“I’m kidding. I’m not going to leave you there. Just tell me when you’re done.”

“No,” she said, squatting down. “I’m fine. I ‘command’ you to go sit down and leave me in peace.”

“Fine, Fine,” he mumbled, walking away with his hands still held obediently in the air… his shoulder muscles straining through the back of his shirt, those pants, cupping that sweet, tight—

What the hell?! Why was she checking out his ass?

Angeline huffed, thoroughly irritated. With herself. With him. With the whole situation.

She had no idea how her soldiers were doing back at camp, she had no clue what all these changes with the Elves could mean, and on top of that, now she was completely vulnerable. No magic and a bum leg. Useless. Left at the mercy of a rebel meathead. Her mission was at stake and all she could do was gawk at said piece of man-meat. She had to knock it off.

She tugged her pants back up and took a step. What? No jarring pain? Just a little tender. How had a few minutes of massage done that?

“You done?” Kallen yelled from the other side of the tree. “You sure you don’t want me to come get you?”

“I’m fine,” she shouted back… but really, she was anything but.